... so many of you know that I spent a few fantastic weeks in the Languedoc this summer, guest of a gorgeous Chateau with access to some of the best restaurants in the world. Of course, the thing about the...

Italy is one of the world's most imported wines, and for good reason - the country boasts more than 1000 different varieties of grapes. Many collectors swoon for their Barolo and Barbaresco, high-acid, long lived wines that pack a powerful...

In these challenging economic times, most of us are only too happy to learn of exciting new regions that offer quality wines at a good value. Last Fall I was lucky enough to visit the Rhone valley in France and...

Wine & Food Pairing at Restaurant Daniel with Sommelier Raj Vaidya and Executive Chef Jean-Francois Bruel Part 1 If the oldest question in the world is “what’s for dinner,” consider that the second oldest question may very well be “what...

Are you a jaded diner? In today's power-packed culinary world, many people are lucky enough to visit four and five star restaurants as a matter of course. Twenty years ago, for example, dining at a top restaurant would be because...

. .. so if you have been to the Marketplace at Grand Central Station in NYC, you know there is a Murray's cheese shop. The other day I spotted this rich, exotic looking cheese that was too enticing to pass...

Now that summer is winding down, it's time to enjoy an al fresco picnic in the park. I recently had the opportunity to taste two affordable California wines that would be perfect pairings with the elegant salads of summer. In...

Part 1: Tale of Two Pinot Noir One of the pleasures of those who love Pinot Noir is blind tasting various producers and deciding if they are Old World or New World, and then trying to pinpoint the producer’s exact...

… So did you ever wonder how wine got on a restaurant’s wine list? For many upper end restaurants, the wine list is one of the primary reasons customers come to dine at their establishment. Some very high end restaurants...

Once upon a time, wine from Chianti was associated with candles and straw wrapping. Savvy wine connoisseurs today know that the quality of wine from the Chianti region of Italy—and the specific D.O.C.G. region of Chianti Classico -- has soared....

... you may be interested to know that I spent the previous week in beautiful downtown Sacramento, taking yet more exams related to my CWE from the Society of Wine Educators and taking in the various seminars and tastings. This...

Okay, so you are planning a romantic dinner for two - or are inviting friends over for a fun evening. You want to pair each dish with a different wine, and one of them has to be crisp and refreshing....

“The biggest mistake couples make when they get married is buying too many glasses,” says Max Riedel, during a demonstration of his fine glassware in his company’s Manhattan office. With this tidbit of sage advice, Mr. Riedel, the grandson of...

"What wine should I have with short ribs?" As a food and wine pairing expert, I am often asked about what to drink with what one eats. Recently I was offered a glass of wine "blind" (meaning I did not...